Self-cleaning ditching-shovel.



PATENTE!) JAN. `15,- 1907;-

W. 11000K. l SELF CLEANING DITOHING sHovLL'.

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No. 841,375. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907.

W. P. 000K. SELF CLEANING DITGHING SIHOVBL.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 6,1906.'

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No. 841,375. PATBNTBD JAN. 15, 19o?.

W. P. 000K. SELF CLEANING DITGHING sHoVEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULYG, 1906.

SSHIIETS-SHEET 3.

NITEI) STATES ATENI OFFICE.

SELF-CLEANING DlTCHlNG-SHOVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed July 6, 1906. Serial No. 325,399.

To fo//Z whom, it may concern' Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Ooox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk `and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Self-Cleaning Ditching-Shovel, of which the following is a speciiication. Y

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ditching-machines of the class comprising a frame having a track to extend from the frame laterally in both directions to support and guide a sliding carriage containing a single shovel, which shovel moves from one end oi the track to the other and is filled when in the ditch and dumped when at the outer limit olE the track.

More specifically, my improvement applies to that class of shovels used in ditchingmachines, which shovels are provided with a movable back, so that the shovel may till itsehc when going in either direction, and so that the load may be discharged at either end of the track and the shovel cleaned out by moving the back from one end of the shovel to the other-such, for instance, as is illustrated in my application, Serial No. 325,398, filed July 6, 1906.

My object is to provide means for automatically holding the front end of the shovel at a certain predetermined distance `from the track and permitting the back end of the shovel to have a limited movement, to thereby avoid having the back end of the shovel press upon and bind on the ground through which it is being moved.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of thel device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows a part of a track-supporting frame of a ditching-machine' in a ditch with my improved shovel applied thereto and provided with the automatic means for supporting the front end of the shovel and for permitting a movement of the rear end of the shovel, portions of the machine-frame being broken away to show certain details of construction. Fig. 2 shows an end elevation of' a shovel-supporting frame and shovel embodying my invention. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the same with the shovel and one of the shovel-supporting devices in section. Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the shovel and shovel-supporting frame embodying my invention. Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating one of the bearing devices for one of the axles of the shovel, and Fig. 6 shows a side elevation of the castings that form the bearing-box shown in Fig, 5. In the following description I shall refer only briefly to the main frame, the shovel, the sliding shovel-back, and the means for automatically operating said shovel-back, for the reason that these parts form of themselves no part oi my present invention.

Referring to the accompanyin(T drawings, I have used the reference-numeral I() to indicate the main supporting-frame of the ditching-machine, and ll an extension thereof hinged to the main frame. On these parts there are flanges l2 to support the anged wheels of the shovel-frame hereinafter described. On the outer end of the part 11 is a direction-pulley I3, over which a cable 14 is passed. In this connection it is to be understood that there are to be two of the extensions Il and that the cable 14 passes over a pulley on each extension, and its ends are attached to the shovel. The shovel-supporting frame is indicated by the reference-numeral I5. The shovel sides and bottom I6 are attached to this frame l5 and both ends are open, each end being provided with a sharpened cutting blade 17, so that the shovel may cut equally well when moving in either direction. Mounted in the frame 15 is a slide 1S in the guides 19, which slide is arranged for travel longitudinally of the frame. Fixed to the slide 18 is a ilat shovel-back 20, to which the braces Z1 are fixed, and the ends oi the cable 13 are attached to chains 22,

' which in turn are connected to said braces.

The device Jfor holding the shovel-back at one end of its movement and for automatically releasing at the dumping-point comprises a pivoted lock-bar 23, carried by the frame l5 and designed to engage one end of the slide-bar I8 to positively lock the slidebar IS against longitudinal movement in a direction toward the locking-bar 23. Pivotally connected with the locking-'bar 23 is an arm 24, having a limited sliding connection with a lever 25, which is pivoted to the frame 15 and which is extended upwardly and outwardly from the center of the shovel-frame, l

so that an upward movement given to the outer end of the lever 25 will raise the locking-bar 23 out of contact with the slide-bar 18. The means for automatically effecting this movement of the lever 25 comprises a stationary arm 26, provided with a roller 27 and arranged ini the path of the lever 25 at the point Where the dumping is to take place. In Il'ig. 3 the dotted lines show the positions of these parts with the locking-bar 23 elevated. In this connection it is to be understood that a similar device is provided for each end of the shovel and'at each end of the shovel-su pporting track.

The shovel-supporting frame device comrises two axles 28, each of which has two anged wheels 29 thereon to travel between the tracks 12, and it is the bearings for these axles and the means for moving the axles in said bearings and for securing them in different positions therein that comprise my present invention. There is a similar bearingbox at each end of each axle, andv each of said bearing-boxes comprises two castings, each of which has its bottom shaped to fit into a part of the shovel-frame 15 and each of which comprises a side 30 and two vends 31. In the ends 31 are formed slots 32, extending at an incline upwardly from the shovel-frame and inwardly toward the transverse center of the shovel-frame, the axles 28 being passed through these slots. The tops of the sides 30 are united by bolts 33, which bolts also support a bearing-block 34, which projects downwardly to engage the axle 28 at the top of the slots 32. The greatest pressure upon the axle 28 is in a downward direction, and this bearing-block is designed to support it against such pressure. In this way each axle is made capable of an independent movement in its bearings throughout the length of the slots 32. In order to work properly, the forward axle of the shovel must be held firmly to its upward limit of movement, while the rear axle must be allowed a free up-and-down movement in the slots 32. This is true when the shovel is advancing in either direction. I have provided for automatically accomplishing this result, as follows: On the inner side of each bearing-box is a guide-loop 35, and two locking-bars are provided to enter said loops and be guided thereby, one on each side of the shovel-frame. Each of these lookin g-bars comprises a straight body portion 36, passed under the bearing-boxes and parallel withL the side of the shovel-frame, and on each end of each bar 36 is an upward extension 37 and a horizontal inwardly-extending portion 38 to pass through the guide-loop 35. The length of the extensions 38 are such that when one of them extends under the axle 28 at one end of the shovel-frame the other will be outside of the path of the axle 28, so that only one of the ends 38 may support one of the axles 28 at one time. The other will necessarily be in y an inoperative position. On the bottom of l each end of the bar 36 is a block 39, arranged in the path of the movable shovel-back 20, as clearly shown in F ig. 3. As heretofore explained, the shovel-back is always at the rear end of the shovel when the shovel is moving, and therefore the shovel-back will hold the locking-bar in position with the end 38 at the rear of the shovel out of the path of the axle 28, and it will also hold the extension 38 at the front of the shovel in the path of the axle 28 at the front of the shovel. The shifting of frame, so that when this shifting takes place the shaft 28 is always at the top of the slotted l In practical use and assuming the shovel tov be in the center of the ditch and moving toward one end of the machine-frame, then when the front of the digging edge of the shovel reaches the corner at the intersection at the bottoni and the side of the ditch, then the front end will be held at its upper limit of movement, and when in this position the cutting edge of the shovel will be in front of the forward axle 28, so that when the shovel passes around the corner its front end will cut deeper into the side of the ditch than would be the case if the cutting edge of the shovel were in line with the forward axle 28 or in the rear thereof. Then when the rear end of the shovel comes to the turning-point its end may freely move up and down, so that it will just rest upon the ground, but will not wedge or bind between the machinefrarne and the ground, as would loe the case if it were rigidly held. Then the shovel proceeds to the outer end of the frame, and the trip-lever 25 strikes the roller 27, which releases the locking-lever 23 and permits the shovel-back to move to the forward end of the shovel, thus discharging the load and scraping out the interior of the shovel. As the shovel-back approaches the forward end of the shovel it will strike upon the block 39 of the locking-b ar 36 and then carry the lockingbar with it, so that the position of the locking-bar will be altered and the axle 28, that was free to move up and down in the slotted bearings, will be locked by the extension 38, while the shaft that was previously locked will befree. Furthermore, the locking-lever 23 will automatically drop to position to hold the shovel-back in its position at the opposite end of the shovel. Then the movement of the shovel is reversed and a new load is gathered by the shovel during its return movement. In order to more clearly illustrate the advantages'gained by having the slots in the the bar 36 always takes place when the s shovel is suspended at one end of the shovel- IOO IIO

bearing-boxes for the axles 28 arranged on an upward and an inward incline, I will assume, first, that these slots are arranged vertically and next horizontally instead of at the angles shown. If the slots were arranged vertically, then the forward axle would be held at its upper limit and the shovel at its lower limit of movement, so that the shovel would cut as deeply as possible into the ground at the corner between the bottom and the side of the ditch. In the event that the slots were arranged parallel with the shovel then by having the front of the shovel project a considerable distance beyond the axle said cutting edge would cut into the side of the ditch much farther than though the cutting edge were in the rear ofthe axle. It is therefore obvious that by arranging the slots of the bearings at the angles shown and by holding the forward axle at the top and at the inner end of the slotted bearings the cutting edge of the shovel will be held at its lower limit and at its forward limit relative to the axle, and therefore the excavation at the corner will be cut out both on the bottom and on the side far enough to permit the rear end of the shovel to clear itself on both the bottom and side at the corner of the ditch without danger of wedging or binding between the frame and the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor', is-.

1. In a ditching-machine, a supportingtrack, a shovel movable longitudinally of the track, means for firmly holding the front of the shovel in a certain position relative to the track, and means for permitting a limited movement of the rear of the shovel relative to the track.

2. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, shovel-supporting devices movable longitudinally of the track, a shovel, and means for adjusting 'the shovel relative to the shovel-supporting devices.

3. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, shovel-supporting devices movable longitudinally of the track, a shovel, and means for adjusting the shovel toward or away from the track.

4. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, shovel-supporting devices movable longitudinally of the track, ,a shovel, and means for adjusting the shovel in a longitudinal direction relative to the shovelsupporting devices.

5. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, shovel-supporting devices movable longitudinally of the track, a shovel, and means for adjusting either end of the shovel relative to the shovel-supporting devices.

6. In a ditching-machine, a track, a shovelsupporting device movable longitudinally of the track, a shovel capable of movement relative to the shovel-supporting device, and means for iixing one end of the shovel in a certain position relative to the shovel-supporting device.

7. In a ditching-machine, a track, a shovelsupporting device movable longitudinally of the track, a shovel having its ends capable of independent movement relative to the shovelsupporting device, and means for Ixing either end of the shovel in a certain position relative to the shovel-supporting device;

8. In a ditching-machine, a track, a shovelsupporting device movable longitudinally of the track, a shovel capable of movement relative to the shovel-supporting device, and means for automatically fixing one end of the shovel at its limit of movement away from the track.

9. Ina ditching-machine, a track, av shovelsupporting device movable longitudinally of the track, a shovel capable of movement relative to the shovel-supporting device,l and means for automatically securing the forward end of the shovel at its limit of movement away from the track when the shovel is moved in either direction.

10. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, a shovel-supporting device capable of sliding movement on the track, a shovel having its end portions each capable of independent movement relative to the shovel-supporting device, and a sliding locking-bar carried by the shovel to engage one end of the shovel-supporting device and to hold said end at its limit of movement away from the track.

1l. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, a shovel-supporting device capable of sliding movement on the track, a shovel having its end portions each capable of independent movement relative to the shovel-supporting device, and a sliding locking-bar, in one position shaped to engage one end of the shovel-supporting frame and hold the shovel at its limit of movement away from the track, and at the same time to disengage from the other end of the shovel-supporting device to permit its free movement relative to the shovel-supporting device.

12. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, a shovel-supporting device capable of sliding movement on the track, a shovel having its end portions each capable of independent movement relative to the shovel-supporting device, and a sliding locking-bar, in one position shaped to engage one end of the shovel-supporting frame and hold the shovel at its limit of movement away from the track, and at the same time to disengage from the other end of the shovel-supporting device to permit its free movement relative to the shovel-supporting device and in its other position being released from the end of the shovel-supporting device previ- IOO IOS

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IIS

ously engaged and engaging the end previously released to hold said latter end at its limit of movement away from the track.

13. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, two axles having their ends guided by said track, a shovel, bearing-boxes on the shovel, formed with slots toV receive said axles, and an automatic locking-bar to engage oneof said axles and hold it in the top of the slot.

14. In a` ditching-machine, the combination of a track, two axles having their ends guided by said track, a shovel, bearing-boxes on the shovel, formed with slots to receive said axles, and an automatic locking-bar slidingly mounted in the shovel with its ends designed to successively engage said axles and hold them in the tops of the slots.

l5. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, two axles having wheels thereon mounted in said tracks, a shovel, bearing-boxes carried by the shovel, having slots therein to receive said axles to permit a movement of the shovel relative to the track, and a sliding locking-bar carried by the shovels and shaped to lock one of the axles in the top of its slotted bearing, and at the same time to stand out of engagement with the other axle and also shaped to be capable of engaging the other axle in a similar manner and disengaged from the iirst axle.

16. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, a shovel-supporting device movable longitudinally of the track, a shovel on the shovel-supporting device and capable of movement toward or from the track, a sliding back in said shovel and a locking device actuated by the sliding back for locking one end of the shovel at its limit of movement away from the track.

17. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, two axles mounted for 1nove ment in the track, a shovel formed with slotted bearings to receive said axles and to permit the shovel to move toward or from the track, a sliding locking-bar carried by the shovel and capable of engaging either axle, a sliding'shovel-back in the shovel, and means for moving said locking-bar actuated by the shovel-back.

18. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a track, two axles, wheels on the axles mounted in said tracks, an open-ended shovel having at each end bearing-boxes provided with slots to extend upwardly and toward the transverse center of the shovel, and having said axles therein, a slide-bar mounted in the shovel and having extensions capable of moving under either axle to hold the axle in the top of the slot, said extensions of such length that when one is in engagement with one axle, the other will be 4out of engagement with the other axle, a sliding back in the shovel, said back designed to engage a part of the sliding locking-bar when near either limit of its movement and to move the locking-bar to position engaging one of the axles.

WILLIAM F. COOK.

Titnesses S. F. CHRISTY, J. RALPH ORWIG. 

